Dive on in

THE Wangaratta Indoor Sports and Aquatic Centre (WISAC) will be bustling this weekend, with more than 380 swimmers set to take their marks at the outdoor pool for a two-day long-course swim meet. Hosted by the Wangaratta Amateur Swimming Club, alongside Wodonga City Swimming Club, the open meet held across Saturday and Sunday is shaping up to be one of the biggest meets of the year at the WISAC. Wangaratta Amateur Swimming Club president Allison Allen said she was blown away with the number of entries from across the country. “We had to close entries early because it was so popular and we had so many bookings, we reached capacity a week earlier than normal,” she said. “We’ve never had that happen before, so it’s going to be a great weekend. “It’s our major fundraiser for the year as well through entries, so it’s a really important part of our calendar. “We’ve got about 50 clubs competing, lots from Melbourne, we’ve got clubs from Bendigo and Kangaroos Flat, Gladstone in Queensland, Monbulk, Wyee Point - this is in addition to our local Ovens and Murray clubs. “People are coming from far and wide, and the fact that it’s a two-day meet as well, these clubs see it as an opportunity to get away as a team, a club camp or a team building meet.” Allen said the influx of participants from all parts could be explained by the looming cut-off date for qualifying entries to state and national events. “Entries for Victorian Age State Competitions close on December 3, so this is one of the last chances that swimmers have to qualify for that championship meet,” she said. “It’s an open meet – often those meets will only have swimmers from within our district at them, but because we’ve got such a great pool and such a good facility, and also because we’re getting closer to State Championships, that’s why we have a lot of people who travel here to try and get the times they need to qualify for the State Championships. “Every time we host a swimming event at our pol, the feedback I get from clubs who have travelled from Melbourne or wherever is we’re so lucky to have such an amazing facility, and we absolutely are.” While the outdoor pool will be solidly booked out for the weekend, the WISAC’s other facilities will be open as per usual. “The outdoor pool is booked for the whole weekend for the swim meet, but the rest of the pools will be open to the public,” WISAC booking and administration officer Grace Kerwin said. “It’ll be busy, but there will still be access to the public for all other pools and the gym will be open as usual.” The entire sporting precinct will be buzzing, with WDCA cricket at all four grounds on Saturday, while the Project 365 ‘Ripple Effect’ event will be held at the rodeo grounds behind the showgrounds.

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